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Thursday, July 21, 2011

A Desire for Christ

 "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth...And God said 'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness'....So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him."
Genesis 1:1,26,27

  When man was first created we were made " in the image of God" this means that mankind was given the same moral and natural likeness that God had. For example, a sense of justice, a need to love and be loved, a kind and gentle demeanor and so on.
  When man sinned and a divide was driven between us and God, we lost our moral likeness and became sinful, but we did not lose our natural likeness to God.
  This left us with a sinful nature and the framework, so to speak, of our Christlikeness.
  Part of God's design for us was to give us emotions, intellect, and a will. These are the things that drive us, and, if used in the right way, can lead us straight to the Lord. But all of these things were meant to be lead by someone. And when we don't seek God's face, we are lead by other things. Especially if we have not accepted Christ. 
   All of these things are relevant for those who have accepted Christ as well, but when a person accepts Christ, new desires and emotions are also awakened. Things that have always been inside us but can never be recognized without Christ living in us. Such as a desire to know and love God, and for Him to know and love us.
  In order to do this, we must seek Him. We must go to Him and grow close to God. Just like if you have a new friend that you want to get to know better, what do you do? Spend time with them, talk to them.
 A desire for Christ may start with just an inkling of a feeling, it may come as soon as you receive Christ or years later. But the only way to help it grow so that you desire Christ over sin's temptations and over everyone and everything else around you, is to spend time seeking God. We can't talk to Him face to face no, but that's exactly why He gave us His word. Which is essential when it comes to living a life for Christ.
  So, I challenge you, if you are a new Christian just learning all these things or if you already know all of this and just need a reminder, to seek God. Talk to Him, share your heart with Him, ask for direction, use His word to help guide you, and then watch as He works in your life. And as you do these things, God will build your desire for Him and His word.